Echeveria plant named ‘Joey1’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct  Echeveria  cultivar named ‘Joey1’ is disclosed, characterized a multiple, self-initiating branching habit, strong, uniform leaf color over a wide temperature range and under low water stress. Additionally, the new variety produces a high number of flower stems, with the peak amount in spring. The new variety is an  Echeveria , typically produced as a garden or container plant.

Latin name of the genus and species: Echeveria hybrid.

Variety denomination: ‘Joey1’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The new cultivar is a product of a planned breeding program. The newvariety originated from a cross pollination of the seed parent, anunpatented proprietary selection of Echeveria setosa referred to as‘180’ with the pollen parent, an unpatented proprietary selection ofEcheveria secunda referred to as ‘182’ directed by the inventor in Aprilof 2003. The crossing was made in Yowrie, New South Wales, Australia, ata commercial greenhouse.

‘Joey1’ was discovered by the inventor, John Oates, in June 2004 inGlenfield, New South Wales, Australia, at a commercial greenhouse amongseedlings resulting from the 2003 crossing.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar ‘Joey1’ was first performed inGlenfield, New South Wales, Australia, at a commercial greenhouse byleaf cuttings in September 2004. ‘Joey1’ has since produced severalgenerations and has shown that the unique features of this cultivar arestable and reproduced true to type.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The cultivar ‘Joey1’ has not been observed under all possibleenvironmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat withvariations in environment such as temperature, day length, and lightintensity, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘Joey1’. These characteristics incombination distinguish ‘Joey1’ as a new and distinct Echeveriacultivar:

-   -   1. Freely producing side shoots.    -   2. Maintains strong leaf color over wide temperature range and        under low water stress.    -   3. High number of flower stems, maximizing in spring.

PARENTAL COMPARISON

Plants of the new cultivar ‘Joey1’ are similar to the female parent‘180’ in most horticultural characteristics. However, ‘Joey1’ differs inproducing more offshoots, a more stable leaf color, more flowering stemsand a glabrous instead of ciliate leaf margin.

Plants of the new cultivar ‘Joey1’ are similar to the male parent ‘182’in most horticultural characteristics. However, ‘Joey1’ differs inproducing many more offshoots, a green-yellow leaf color, compared togreen-blue of the pollen parent, and more flowering stems than thepollen parent.

COMMERCIAL COMPARISON

‘Joey1’ can be compared to the unpatented commercial variety Echeveria‘Green Ripple’. Plants of ‘Green Ripple’ are similar to plants of‘Joey1’ in most horticultural characteristics, however, ‘Joey1’ producesmore sideshoots, and more flowering stems. Additionally, ‘Joey1’maintains the same foliage color under a variety of environmentalconditions, whereas ‘Emerald Ripple’ has a foliage color that varietiesunder different environmental conditions.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

The accompanying photograph in FIG. 1 illustrates in full color atypical plant of ‘Joey1’ grown outdoors in Bonsall, Calif. This plant isapproximately 1 year old, shown in a 4 inch pot. The photograph wastaken using conventional techniques and although colors may appeardifferent from actual colors due to light reflectance it is as accurateas possible by conventional photographic techniques.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

In the following description, color references are made to The RoyalHorticultural Society Colour Chart except where general terms ofordinary dictionary significance are used. The following observationsand measurements describe ‘Joey1’ plants grown outdoors in Bonsall,Calif. Temperatures ranged from 2° C. to 28° C. night and day. Noartificial light, photoperiodic treatments or chemical treatments weregiven to the plants. Measurements and numerical values representaverages of typical plant types.

-   Botanical classification: Echeveria hybrid. cultivar ‘Joey1’.-   Age of the plant described: Approximately 1 year.-   Container size of the plant described: 4 inch.

PROPAGATION

-   Time to initiate roots: About 12 to 20 days at approximately 20° C.-   Time to produce a rooted young plant: Approximately 50 days.-   Propagation method: Leaf cuttings.-   Root description: Fibrous.

PLANT

-   Growth habit: Rosulate plant, sessile, non-branching, freely    produces side off-shoots.-   Height: Measured from soil level at top of pot, approximately 6 cm    to top of highest leaf. Approximately 25 cm to top of highest    inflorescence.-   Plant spread: Approximately 14 cm.-   Growth rate: Moderate.-   Number of leaves per stem: Approximately 26.-   Stem length: Approximately 7.5 cm.-   Stem width: Approximately 4.5 cm.-   Stem color: Near RHS Yellow-Green 144D.-   Stem texture: Smooth.-   Age of plant described: Approximately 1 year.

FOLIAGE

-   Leaf:    -   -   Shape of blade.—Oblanceolate.        -   Apex.—Broadly acute.        -   Base.—Oblique.        -   Margin.—Entire.        -   Texture of top surface.—Glabrous.        -   Texture of bottom surface.—Glabrous.        -   Quantity of leaves per plant.—Approximately 55.        -   Color.—Young foliage upper side: Near RHS Green 138A. Acute            tip Red-Purple 59C. Young foliage under side: Near RHS Green            139C. Mature foliage upper side: Near RHS Yellow-Green 146B.            Acute tip and very thin margin colored Greyed-Purple 185A.            Mature foliage under side: Near RHS Yellow-Green 146B. Acute            tip and very thin margin colored Greyed-Purple 185A.-   Venation:    -   -   Type.—Parallel.        -   Venation color.—Indistinguishable.-   Petiole: Not present, sessile.

FLOWER

-   Natural flowering season: Spring.-   Inflorescence type and habit: Elongated peduncles arise from lateral    portions of rosette. Terminates in 2 or 3 corymbs. Generally 1 to 3    significantly larger flowers per corymb.-   Rate of flower opening: More than 2 weeks to fully opened individual    flower.-   Flower longevity on plant: Several weeks.-   Quantity of flowers: 3 to 5 viable flowers that will fully open per    corymb. 3 to 7 non-opening buds per corymb.-   Total inflorescence size:    -   -   Height.—Approximately 3.6 cm.        -   Width.—Approximately 5.2 cm.-   Quantity of inflorescences: 2 fully mature peduncles with 2 to 3    corymbs and 2 immature peduncles with corymbs developing at one    time.-   Individual flowers corolla:    -   -   Arrangement.—Cylindrical shaped corolla, actinomorphic,            flaring open at end. 5 separate petals, barely fused at            base.        -   Petal description.—Quantity: 5. Length: Approximately            1.3 cm. Width: Approximately 0.4 cm at widest point. Margin:            Entire. Shape: Narrow deltoid. Apex: Acute to acuminate.            Base: Oblique. Texture: Matte. Color: Immature: Near RHS            Orange-Red 32A with streaks 32C and base 32D. Fully Opened            Interior: Near RHS Yellow-Orange 17C with streaks near            Orange 25A. Fully Opened Exterior: Near RHS Orange-Red N30A,            margin Near RHS 24B. Fading: Color change during fading not            observed.-   Calyx:    -   -   Arrangement.—Actinomorphic, polysepalous.        -   Sepal description.—Quantity: 5. Length: Approximately            0.9 cm. Width: Approximately 0.4 cm at widest point. Margin:            Entire. Shape: Deltoid. Apex: Acute. Texture: Matte. Other            Characteristics: Fleshy. Color: Outer surface: Near RHS            Green 138A. Inner surface: Near RHS Green 138B.-   Bud:    -   -   Shape.—Acorn shape.        -   Length.—Approximately 1.1 cm.        -   Diameter.—Approximately 0.6 cm.        -   Color.—Near RHS Orange-Red 33B, base Near RHS Yellow 4D.-   Pedicels:    -   -   Length.—Approximately 0.3 cm.        -   Width.—Approximately 0.2 cm.        -   Aspect.—Straight, angled 10′ to 30′ degrees from point of            attachment Color: Near RHS Yellow-Green 145B.-   Peduncle:    -   -   Length.—Approximately 21 cm.        -   Width.—Approximately 0.6 cm.        -   Aspect.—Straight to very slightly undulating. Nearly 90°            from rosette.        -   Strength.—Very strong.        -   Color.—Near RHS Yellow-Green 145B background color. Strong            flush of Red 47C.-   Fragrance: None.

REPRODUCTIVE ORGANS

-   Stamens:    -   -   Number.—Average 12.        -   Filament length.—Approximately 0.4 cm.        -   Filament color.—Near RHS Yellow 9A.        -   Anther length.—Approximately 0.1 cm.        -   Anther color.—Near RHS Yellow 13A.        -   Anther shape.—Spatulate.        -   Pollen.—Scant.        -   Pollen color.—Near RHS Yellow 13A.-   Pistil:    -   -   Number: 5.        -   Length (including style).—Approximately 0.8 cm.        -   Style length.—Approximately 0.4 cm.        -   Style color.—Near RHS Yellow-Green 150D.        -   Stigma.—Shape: Linear. Color: Near RHS Greyed-Orange 170A.            Ovary color: Near RHS Green-Yellow 1D.

OTHER CHARACTERISTICS

-   Seeds and fruits: Not observed.-   Disease/pest resistance: Neither tolerance nor resistance to normal    diseases and pests of Echeveria have been observed.-   Temperature tolerance: Tolerates temperatures from approximately    2° C. to at least 40° C.-   Drought tolerance: Plant can survive for at least 2 weeks without    supplemental water without a change in foliage color, or detrimental    effects to the plant.

1. A new and distinct cultivar of Echeveria plant named ‘Joey1’ asherein illustrated and described.